Guidance notes
When applying for the grant or renewal of a firearm certificate, please adhere to the following points

1. Fees
The fee for the grant of a firearm certificate is £50. Cheques should be made payable to Thames Valley Police. No fee is payable where the certificate relates solely to a:

* Home Office Approved Club
* firearm, ammunition or signalling apparatus as part of equipment for a ship, aircraft or airport
* slaughtering instrument (not just humane killing)
* firearm possessed as a trophy of war.

2. Coterminous certificates
If you are applying for the grant or renewal of a firearm certificate and you already hold a shot gun certificate, you can save money in the long term by requesting that both certificates expire on the same date (ie made coterminous). By completing a shot gun renewal application at the same time as your firearms grant or renewal application, we will arrange for your shot gun certificate to expire on the same date as your firearms certificate. Future renewals of your shot gun certificate will be at the reduced fee of £10 instead of £40.

3. Good reason for possession of firearms
Section 27(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968 provides that a chief officer of police shall grant or renew a firearms certificate if he is satisfied that the applicant has a good reason to possess, or purchase, or acquire the firearm or ammunition for which the application is made. Good reason is demonstrated by the applicant showing that he or she has acceptable facilities to use of the type of firearm or firearms concerned.

(a) Target Shooting
You will be expected to be a full member of a target shooting club. Membership will be verified with a club official.

(b) Shooting Vermin/Fox/Deer or other Quarry Species
If you do not own the land or the shooting rights to the land on which you intend to shoot, you need permission to do so. This can be done in a letter or provide the name and contact number of the land owner in order that it may be verified.

If you are applying for a variation to increase the number of firearms you wish to possess for shooting vermin/sporting shooting, please give the reason for the addition. Simply stating 'shooting vermin' or 'shooting deer’ is not sufficient. If, for example you already have a .22RF rifle for shooting vermin and are applying for a second rifle for the same purpose you will need to justify the need for two in order that your good reason can be assessed.

4. Referees
You should give the enclosed Reference Forms to two people who have known you for at least two years. If the application is in respect of a renewal of a firearm cerificate for target shooting then one referee must be an official of the approved club named on the application. Members of your immediate family, registered firearms dealers, serving police officers and employees cannot act as referees. Referees must be of good character. Both referees must sign the declaration at Part E on the application but will return the Reference Form direct to the police. Full details are to be found on the Reference Form guidance notes FIR 125 available as a download.

5. Previous Convictions
All previous convictions must be declared on the application form when applying for a grant. Only convictions acquired since the previous renewal (or grant) need be entered when applying for a renewal. It is an offence under Section 28A(7) of the Firearms Acts 1968-1997 to make a false declaration when answering this question. It is not permitted to withhold previous convictions by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (see Notes to Part A on the application form). If the exact date cannot be remembered give an approximation as well as the nature of the offence. Not all convictions are relevant but the offender's age when they were committed and the length of time without re-offending are factors which are considered in addition to the seriousness of the offence.

6. Security of Firearms and Shot Guns
Security of your firearm(s) and ammunition is your responsibility.

These guidelines are not mandatory and alternative methods of achieving a similar standard of security will be considered. They cover section 1 firearms and ammunition and section 2 shot guns.

(a) Gun Cabinets
Any cabinet used to store firearms, component parts of firearms, or ammunition should conform to BS 7558(1992).

(b) Rifles/Shot Guns
Rifles should be kept in a gun cabinet or within a gun room with adequate door and window security. Rifle bolts should be stored separately in a similar container which may form part of the main cabinet provided it is capable of being locked separately. Whilst shot guns are best kept in a gun cabinet, alternative methods of achieving a similar standard of security will be accepted eg in a substantial locked cupboard or secured to a wall with a chain or wire hawser (also locked).

(c) Handguns
Handguns are section 5 (prohibited) weapons. Where an exemption has been granted for their possession they should be kept in a substantial steel container, preferably a gun cabinet. .

(d) Ammunition
Ammunition should be stored separately in a locked container. It may form part of the main cabinet provided it is separately locked. Ammunition boxes should be ventilated.

(e) Security
Gun cabinets must be attached to a sound surface and the force required to pull the fixing bolt should not be less than 2kN. The gun cabinet should be locked by means of one or more secure locks or close shackle padlocks of not less than 1,000 differs. Padlock shackles should be hardened. The cabinets should preferably be in a concealed place. Preferably it should not be in a garage or outhouse. Principally, only cabinets which meet the specification BS 7558 (1992) are suitable but others may be acceptable if examined by a Firearms Enquiry Officer.

(g) General
Where numerous guns are kept, serious consideration should be given to the installation of an intruder alarm system conforming to BS 4737. All external doors to the premises should be secured with five lever mortice locks. Accessible, opening windows should be fitted with window locks. Alternatively, if the premises in which the firearms are to be stored are especially vulnerable eg flats, houses converted to apartments or dwellings in high risk areas, guns should be stored at an armoury or with a Registered Firearms Dealer. In the case of collectors, guns should not be openly displayed.

(h) Transporting Guns
When guns and ammunition are transported, consideration should be given to the security of both during the journey. Where guns and ammunition are transported on a regular basis the installation of a lockable container securely bolted to the structure of the vehicle so as to prevent easy removal by unauthorised persons is strongly recommended. If the vehicle is to be left unattended it will normally be sufficient to remove the bolt, trigger and/or fore-end of the gun and for the remainder of the gun and ammunition to be concealed from view in the locked vehicle. If the vehicle is to be left unattended for prolonged periods, the guns and/or ammunition should be moved from the vehicle to a more secure location. Guns and/or ammunition should not be visible during transportation. If, exceptionally, guns are to be carried on public transport they should be kept covered in a suitable case and remain with the holder at all times.

7. Antiques
The following types of guns are generally regarded as antiques and, as such do not require a certificate provided they are not fired. If they are fired then the exemption for a certificate ceases.

These definitions are not exhaustive. If in doubt please contact the Firearms Licensing Department.

8. Shot Guns
A shot gun is defined as a smooth-bore gun (not being an air gun) which:

(a) Has a barrel not less than 60.96 cms (24 inches) in length with a bore less than 5.08 cms (2 inches) in diameter.

(b) Either has no magazine or has a fixed magazine not holding more than two cartridges and

(c) Is not a revolver gun.

Shot guns not within this definition require a firearms certificate.

9. Prohibited weapons and ammunition
A firearm certificate or shot gun certificate will not authorise the possession of the following unless authority has been obtained from the Secretary of State or an exemption applies.

(a) Any firearm which is so designed or adapted that two or more missiles can be successively discharged without repeated pressure on the trigger.

(b) Any self loading or pump action rifle other than one chambered for .22 rimfire cartridges.

(i) Handguns, defined as having a barrel length of less than 30cm or is less than 60cm overall. There are exemptions if it is a trophy of war, of historic interest, used for starting races, humane killing or signalling as well as smooth bore pistols chambered for .410 and 9mm cartridges.

Note
(1) There are exemptions in the case of (e) to (g) for holders who have a collector's condition.

(2) There is an exemption in the case of (h) for the holder of a firearms certificate with a condition authorising the possession of this type of ammunition.

(3) Advice on exemptions can be obtained from the Firearms Licensing Department.

10. Expanding Ammunition
Ammunition designed to expand on impact is prohibited under section 5 and an exemption condition is required on certificates where it is acquired and possessed for:

(a) the lawful shooting of deer

(b) shooting vermin or, in connection with the management of any estate, other wildlife

(c) the humane killing of animals

(d) the shooting of animals for the protection of other animals or humans

Brings back memories! I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath 1969-72, and shot a lot of skeet & trap. Any weapons that we bought in Europe had to be kept in the Air Police armory. They would sign out the shotguns when I went to the Rod & Gun Club. I had a buddy that dug up an old flintlock barrel and lock in the back yard of the house he rented in Brandon. He had to keep it at the AP armory until he rotated stateside. When I rotated home it took me three months to get export licenses for my firearms so I could take them home. I remember waiting to board the freedom bird, when the British Police announced over the public address system," Anyone taking a firearm back the US, please stand up and come forward". Almost everyone stood up. One of the British cops said out loud," I never get used to this". I told him that we needed all the firepower to fight off all them Indians west of the Mississippi!!
Regards,
New member
Tom D